February 6, 2026
What is money?
We use money to pay for goods and services. Canadians are using digital money more than ever before, but cash still plays an important role in our economy.
Consult these brief articles explaining topics related to our core functions.
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result(s)
February 24, 2023
The lifespan of a bank note
At the Bank of Canada, we assessed the life cycle of bank notes to confirm that polymer notes have a smaller environmental footprint than paper notes. Polymer notes have a longer life and then are recycled.
Content Type(s):
Explainers
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes
July 28, 2022
Understanding seigniorage
At the Bank of Canada, we cover the cost of day-to-day business with “seigniorage,” which means earning money from issuing bank notes.
Content Type(s):
Explainers
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes,
Funds management,
Monetary policy,
Economy/Economic growth
January 1, 2021
About legal tender
Find out what “legal tender” means, why legal tender status changes, and how to redeem older bank notes.
Content Type(s):
Explainers
Subject(s):
Currency,
Bank notes